Hinged cover for bills of fare.



No. 650,759. -.Patented May 29, I900. R. B. LONGSTRETH.

HINGED CGVEB FOR BILLS 0F FARE.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

I y i/ M @Zerfi j A- f2? v 551,,

UNITED STATES.

PATENT @Fric ROBERT E. tonesrnnrn, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

HINGED COVER FO SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filedOctober 4, 1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, ROBERT B. Loncsrsnrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and 'State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hinged Covers for Bills ofFare, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hinged covers for bills of fare and other uses,my object being to provide a cover or temporary binder for use upontables in hotels, restaurants, and other places, having a simple andinexpensive construction, whereby abill of fare may be easily andquickly secured between the two-folding members or removed and replacedby another with equal facilityand speed. i

The primary object of my invention is to' provide such a removable coveror temporary binding with a hinge connection of simple form, wherebyeach member or board of the cover shall have a pivotal bearing wholly independent of the other member, the pivotal points being confined to theends of each leaf' or member of the cover.

It is one purpose of my said invention also to provide a hingeconnection for a cover or temporary binder which can be formed in asingle piece, so that the complete article comprising both covers andtheir connection will consist practically of three parts only. Thisfeature of my invention comprises also the provision of a continuousintegral channeled or concaved surface on the rearward side of theconnecting-hinge and extending from end to end of the same to retain inplace an elastic binding-cord or similar device which lies in thecentral fold or crease formed in the paper and'keeps it in properposition, while it allows its ready removal and the insertion in itsplace of another.

My invention also comprises other novel features, all of which will befully explained in the following specification and thenparticularlypointed out and defined in the claims.

For the purposes of the following description reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective View showinga cover or temporary binder constructed according to my invention. Fig.2 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of the hinged con- R BILLS OF FARE.

Patent N0. 650,759, dated May 29, 1900.

Serial No. 732,549. (No model.)

minium, though I may also use any other metal or any materialthat'issuitable for the purpose. Each cover-section 1 is. of a thicknessto impart the necessary strength and stilfness. Upon its connected edgeeach cover-section is provided with a rib 2, which is nearly circular incross-section and of a diameter considerably exceeding the thickness ofthe cover,- of which it is an integral part. lt extends nearly from endto end of said cover-section, its ends being near the end edges of thelatter and at equal distances from the same. Each rib 2is flush with theinner surface of the cover-section of which it forms a part,.the excessof its thickness, as compared with that of the cover or leaf, projectingfrom the outer surface of the latter.

The reference numeral 3 indicates the hinge connection. It consists of asingle piece having a length equal to that of the cover and ispreferably, though not necessarily, constructed of the same material. Itis provided with two semicircular or nearly, semicircular channels 4,separated from each other by a central rib 5 and having such length asto admit the ribs 2 upon the coversections between lugs 6, which lie atthe ends of said channels 4. These lugs correspond in form and diameterto the shape in cross section of the ribs 2, and they are flush at theirouter surfaces with the end edges of the cover-sections. Anearly-central opening is formed in each lug 6, registering with ascrewthreaded opening in the end of the rib 2, which lies adjacent to orabutting against said lug. A pivot-pin 7, having a plain cylindricalportion 8, is passed through each lug and screwed firmly into the end ofthe rib 2. These pins are headless, and their ends are flush, or nearlyso, with the outer ends of the lugs 6.

The rearward or outer face of the hinge connection 3 is formed with alongitudinal central channel or concave surface 9, extending completelyfrom end to. end of the hinge. This channel lies directly in line withthe rib dupon the inner face, which separates the channels 4 from eachother. Said rib also separates the lugs 6 at each end of the hingeconnection, and a rubber cord 10 or other suitable fastening whenapplied will lie upon the rib 5, pass between said lugs 6 at each end ofthe hinge, and lie centrally in the channel 9. A bill of fare having acentral fold or crease can be readily slipped under said elastic cordand drawn into place with the cord in its fold, or it can be withdrawnand another substiti1ted,the operation requiring only an instant.

The cover or binder described and shown is simplein construction and canbe economically produced. The form of the hinge connection provides forthe retention of the clastic binder or fastening in a centrallongitudinal line 011 both outside and inside, so that the sheet held byit will not easily become displaced. The surfaces of the cover-sectionscan be utilized for advertisements and ornamented in any mannerpreferred.

While I have described the invention as especially adapted to covers forbills of fare, itis evident that it may be used as a temporary bindingfor any other material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A cover forbills of fare or other material, comprising twocover-sections, a hinge connection of a length equal to that of thecoversections and formed integral at its extremities with perforatedlugs and with longitudinal channels between said lugs in which the inneredge portions of the coy er-sections are seated, and pivot-pins passingthrough said lugs into said cover-sections, substantially as described.

2. A cover for bills of fare and other purposes, comprising twocover-sections and a hinge connection in a single piece, having a lengthequal to that of the cover and provided upon its rearward or outer facewith a central, longitudinal channel coextensive with the length of saidhinge connection, substantially as described.

3. A cover or temporary binder having a rigid connection for the twocover-sections provided on its outer face with a central longitudinalchannel to receive an elastic cord or binder, substantially asdescribed.

4. A cover, or temporary binder for bills of fare and other matter,comprising two coversections and a single rigid hinge connectiontherefor, the latter being provided at each end with two lugs to receivepivotal bearings for the ends of said cover-sections, and its exteriorface having a longitudinal channel to receive an elastic bindingcord orendless band which lies in said channel and between the two lugs at eachend of the hinge connection, substantially as described.

5. A cover or temporary binder for bills of fare and other material,comprisin'gtwo cover sections each having a rib on one edge ex tendingnearly to the end edges, and a hinge connection in a single piece havingtwo parallel channels to receive said ribs and lugs at the ends of saidchannels having openings to receive the plain ends of pins which aretapped into the ends of the ribs, said channels and lugs being separatedby a narrow space and the exterior face of the hinge connection beingconoaved or channeled longitudinally to receive an endless rubber bandor elastic cord which lies between the lugs projecting from the otherface of said hinge connection, substantially as described.

6. A cover or temporary binder for bills of fare, comprising twocover-sections each having a nearly-circular rib projecting above itsouter fiat face and flush with the inner face, its ends lying near theend edges of said cover, and a hinge connection in a single piececoextensive with the length of the hinged edges, of the cover-sections,its inner face having two parallel channels and a lug at each end ofeach channel, said channel andlngs being separated by a central rib andits outer face being concave from end to end, to receive an elastic cordwhich lies between the two lugs at each end and in the fold of the billof fare, pins being passed through openings in the lugs and screwed intothe ends of the ribs on the cover-section, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT B. LONGSTRETH.

